Tying machine



May 13, 1947.

J. L: POJMAN TYINGMAGHINE Fiied Oct. 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J06 hLPaJmam BY $4M 9 5" May 13, 1947. J POJMAN 2,420,498

I TYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19; 1943 .3 Shegts-Sheet s INVENTOR.

Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYING MACHINE Application October 19, 1943, Serial No. 506,858

14 Claims. 1

My invention is a machine designed particularly for tying coils of wire, but capable of ready adaptation for tying other articles.

It is one object of my invention to provide a machine for gripping and holding an article, for example, a coil of wire, and wrapping a length of wire around it and tying together the ends of the wire length.

Another object is to apply pressure to the article so that it will be compacted and so held, during the tying operation.

A further object is to provide such a machine which can be used for tying articles, such as coils of wire, of different sizes, without any change in the machine.

Another object is to provide novel mechanism for handling the tie wire, paper or other materials adaptable for tying, novel knottin means and novel article gripping and holding means.

Still a further object is to provide a machine of such kind that it may be used in batteries for certain kinds of article tying.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my tying machine, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tying machine illustrative of and embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view of the machine taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 i a detail, vertical, sectional view of part of the article grippin device, illustrating the slot for the chain and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view of part of the wire cutoff and tying mechanism.

Figure 6 is a top view of the rotary member of the wire tying mechanism; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the overrunning clutch structure.

In the drawings herewith, I have shown a frame having upright legs I0, connecting members ll near the bottoms of the legs and a table I2 to support working parts and provided with suitable opening for working parts.

Resting on the table, and bolted thereto, if desired, is a base [4, provided with suitable openings and bosses. On the base [4 is mounted the article gripping mechainsm and the wire handling and tying mechanism, which intimately cooper- 2 ate. The other operating mechanism is largely below the table.

The device is preferably hydraulically or pneumatically operated, and it could be otherwise mechanically operated. I shall describe it as hydraulically operated.

The machine illustrated in my drawings is shown in a form adapted for tying coils of wire, and will be so described, but it could be very easily adapted for tyingother articles, and I do not desire to limit the use of my improvement to the tying of coils of wire.

The base I4 is provided with raised bosses l6 and 18 which may be machined on their top faces without machining the entire base top.

On the boss I6 is a detachable support or bed I! for a portion of the article to be tied. On the boss I8 is a support 20 for that portion of the coil being tied. This support 20 has a platelike portion bolted to the boss l8 and having parallel upstanding rib-like portions 22, which are concave on top to fit the coil. Adjacent the portions 22, the plate-like portion 20 is provided with slots 23, in which are pivoted the lower ends of article holding and locking arm 24. These arms 24 have projecting portions 26. When the arms 24 are in their upright article-holding positions shown in Figure 2 and in dotted lines in Figure l, the portions 26 fit down into the slots 23 and form parts of the supporting rib-like portions 22. The arms 24 can swing to open position, as illustrated in Figure -1, whereupon the portions 23 then project upwardly from the slots 23, as shown in Figure 1.

It will be seen that when the coil 25 is dropped upon the portions 26 in preparation for tying, those portions are forced into the slots 23 and the effect is to swing the arms 24 from open position of Figure 1 to article holding position of Figure 2.

Supported on the boss [8 is a guide 30, which has in one face the channel 32. I provide a suitable vertically, reciprocable article gripper, indicated generally at G (Fig. 1), which has a number of functions. It functions in cooperation with the arms 24 to compact and grip and hold the article to be tied and it carries and guides the chain hereinafter described.

This article gripper G comprises two parallel, immediately adjacent upright bars 34, 36 bolted or otherwise fastened together. They are both secured to an upright slide plate 38, which slides in the channel 32 and is held in place by the overlying face strips 40. On the faces of the members 34, 36 farthest from the plate 32, they 50 lengthwise in its guide slot.

extending from the plate-like member 20.

have projecting ribs or flanges 42, 44 to engage the article to be tied and to keep it away from those areas of the faces of the members 34, 36 which lie between the flanges 42, 44. The members 34, 36 have at their upper ends laterally spaced, forwardly projecting arm 46, the under faces of which are concave as at 41 to fit the coil of wire. In the forward part of the member 36 is formed a channel or slot 46 for a roller chain 50, or any device equivalent for the purpose. This chain 50 meshes with a sprocket 52 (Fig. 2) journaled in a suitable slot 54 in the lower partof the member 36. As will be seen from Figure 3, the slot 48 has somewhat of an H-shape to 'fit the chain. Pivoted to the upper mesh of the chain 50 is a finger 56 which is at the side of the chain. It will, of course, be understood that the slot is so shaped as to permit the travel of this finger.

The finger is pivoted to the top roller pin of the conventional chain. To suitably guide the finger, it has at the opposite side of the slot a link 58shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, one end of which is mounted on the top pin of the chain, and the other end of which is connected with the finger 56 by a standard pin and roller 60. The slot 48 continues into one of the members 46 as illustrated in Figure 2. The slot 48 terminates in a peculiarly shaped extension 40a better shown in Figure 4. The slot 48a has at the upper part the shoulder 481), so that when the chain reaches its furthermost position in its travel upwardly and then moves forwardly and. then downwardly, the last pin of the chain and the finger 56 slide under the shoulder 48b, which thereupon forms a rigidbacking to prevent the finger being pushed upwardly, after it has assumed its final position with relation to the slot extension 48a. By the structure just described the finger 56 is held against being pushed up during the final tying operation. The finger 56 has in'its free end and extending along one face, the 'wire receiving groove 62, which will be again referred to.

The sprocket 52 is mounted on and carried by the gripping device G (Fig. 2). When the sprocket 52 rotates-it functions to move the chain The sprocket 52 is fixed on a shaft 64, which is suitably journaled on the members 34, 36 and carries at one end a pinion 66. A bracket 66 has a flange I secured to the lower end of the gripping device G. On the bracket 68 is journaled a shaft 'II on which is a gear I2 meshing with the pinion 66. Fixed to the shaft II is an operating arm 14, which projects in both directions from the shaft. At one end it is pivoted as at I6 to the piston rod 16, which in turn is connected to a piston, not shown, in a cylinder 80, which is pivoted at its lower end on the bracket 68. The arm 14 is rocked by the piston rod I8 and is provided with set screws 82, 84 which may be adjusted to cooperate with a stop 86, whereby the stroke of the arm may be regulated to a degree. Thus it appears that the chain 50 is actuated lengthwise in both directions by means of the piston in the cylinder 80, and the gearing means whereby the motion of the piston is transmitted to the sprocket 52.

Themovement of the chain downwardly is limited by means of a stop 88 carried on an arm 90 The stop 63 coacts with a lug '92 formed on the finger 56.. In the member 36 at an appropriate distance above the sprocket 52 isa fore-and-aft hole '94 of the arm 24.

in which is an adjustable bushing 66, the outer end of which has a tapered mouth 98 to receive the end of the tie wire as hereinafter more fully explained.

Connected to the lower end of the article gripping device G is a piston rod I00 (Fig. 2), which in turn is connected with a piston, not shown, in a cylinder I02 (Fig. 1).

On the outer side face of each member 46 is a rabbet I04. In the rabbet spaced from the rear wall thereof is a guide flange I06 tapered as at I68 to facilitate the entrance of the upper end The guide flange I06 carries an anti-friction roller Hi] to coact with the arm 24. Thus after the :arm 24 has been raised to its dotted line position of Figure 1, by putting a load on the member 26, then when the member G is lowered, the upper end of the arm 24 will enter the rabbet I04, being guided, if necessary by the bevel face I08 of the guide flange I06, and as the gripper member G is lowered, the front end of each member 46 will travel downwardly lengthwise of its appropriate arm 24 with that arm between the anti-friction roller IIO and the shoulder of the rabbet I04.

Wire feeding, cut-017 and tying mechanism Supported on the frame of the machine are laterally spaced guide rods II2 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6). On the guide rods IIZ is mounted the slidable bracket H4, which supports the cut-off and tying head H. The cut-off and tying head H comprises a block II6 supported on the arm .I I8 of the bracket H4. In the upper end of the block H6 and extending through it from front to rear is asuitable bearing bushing I20, in which is a rotatable, cylindrical-shaped member I22. One end of the rotating member I 22 projects rearwardly beyond the block H6 and has the flange I23, which is provided with a slot I24 extending diametrically across it. The other end of the rotating member I22 projects forwardly beyond the block H6 and on .this projecting end is mounted a sprocket I26 having an over-running clutch connection with the member I22. Extending diametrically through the rotating member I22 near the flange I23 and aligned with the slot I24 is a'bore I23. Extending lengthwise through the rotating member I 22 is a bore I30. The block IIB has a hole below the rear end of the rotating member I22 and 'the bushing I26, as indicated at I32 in Figurefi. The bushing I26 has a registering hole I34. Directly above the holes I32 and I34 the bushing has a registering hole I36 and the top of the'block '6 has a hole I38. Slidable in the bore I28 in the rotating member I22 is a cut-oil plunger I40, the length of which is just slightly less than'the diameter'of the rotating member I22. The'plunger I40 in its operation sometimes slides partly out of the bore I28 in the rotating'member I 22 but when it is wholly received in thatbore, it

projects into the bore 128 as illustrated in Fig-- 'ure '6.

The lower end of the plunger has .5 a slot I50, as shown in Figure 5, the purpose of which will be explained. The forward part of the bore I30 is threaded and receives an adiustable screw I52. The rearward end of the bushing I48 serves as a cut-off member. The bushing I48 fits snugly in place and as it Wears, it may be forced rearwardly by means of the adjustable screw I52.

The sprocket I26 is held against lengthwise movement on the rotating member I22 by a shoulder I54 thereon and by a washer I56 and a nut I51 on the screw I52. The sprocket I26 has an over-running clutch connection with the rotating member I22, that structure being indicated at I58 and being of any suitable known kind. In Figure 7, I have shown a sectional View illustrating in detail one form in which this over-running clutch might be embodied. As shown the casing or outer sleeve I580. forming part of this over-running clutch is formed as part of the sprocket I26. In that portion of the shaft I22, which is received in the sleeve Ibody I'58a are formed notches I582), each of which receives a roller I 580. The notches are of such shape that when the sleeve I58a rotates counter-clockwise with relation to the shaft I22, as the parts are viewed in Figure '7, the rollers are in the deeper parts of the notches, and the shaft I22 is not actuated. On the other hand, when the sleeve I581; travels clockwise, the rollers move into the narrow or shallow parts of the notches I'58b, and thereby lock the sleeve I'58a to the shaft I22, causing the shaft to rotate with the sleeve. The bushing I48 and the screw I52 have central registering lengthwise holes I68 and I62. In the bore I32 is a plunger I04, which is yieldingly biased upwardly by means of a spring I65 to normally cause the plunger I 64 to project across the joint between the rotating member I22 and the bushing I20. Thus the plunger I64 functions to lock the rotating member I22 against rotation, so long as the plunger I64 is in its upper position.

Above the cut-off plunger I40 is supported a plunger I66 having above the block H6 a head I61. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting the movement of the plunger I66 to the desired stroke. The parts are so proportioned that when the plunger I 66 is shoved downwardly, until the head I61 engages the block II6, the cut-off plunger I48 will be just properly located in the rotating member I22. This movement of the cut-off plunger I40 pushes the plunger I04 down to where that plunger no longer serves to hold the rotary member I22 against rotation. On the rear face of the block IIB is mounted a plate I68, which receives and covers the lower half of the flange I23 as shown in Figure 5. This plate has a boss I70 against which the coil of'wire '25 may rub, and whereby any friction caused thereby will be reduced to a minimum. The top of the plate I68 has a groove I'I2 which registers with the hole I60.

Pivoted to the bracket I I4 is a lever I14, which projects forwardly as shown in Figure 2. Pivoted to the lever I14 as at I16 is a piston rod I18 connected in turn with a piston, not shown, in a cylinder I80. n the bracket arm I I8 is an upstanding bracket I82 (Fig. 2). In the upper end of the bracket I82 is journaled a shaft I84. On the shaft I84 in a slot I86 in the bracket I82 is a wire feeding roll I88. On the shaft I84 at the side of the bracket I82 is a sprocket I90 (Fig. 2). This sprocket I80 is mounted on the shaft I84 by means of an over-running clutch of any standard construction. Mounted in the upper part of the bracket I82 above the roll I88 is a shaft I02, which has an eccentric on which is mounted the cooperating wire feeding roll I84. The shaft is biased toward position for presenting the wheel I94 against the wheel I88 by means of an arm I06 and a, spring I 01 connected to a flange I98 at the lower end of the block II6.

Extending downwardly from the arm H8 is a bracket 200 which suitably supports a sprocket 202 by any ordinary ch'ain tightening mechanism 202a. The sprocket 202 aligns with the sprocket I26. A chain 284 travels on the sprockets 202 and I26.

Connected with the chain 284 is the upper end of a piston rod 208, which is in turn connected with a, piston, not shown, in a cylinder 2I0 illustrated in Figure 1.

Connected to the bracket 20 0 near its lower end is a coil spring 2I2, which is in turn connected to a chain 2I4, which is trained over the sprocket I50 and then over an idler sprocket 2I6 on the arm H8 and is then fastened to the forward end of the lever I'I4.

Hydraulic connections At 2I8 is a supply pipe, for instance, for oil under pressure. At 220 is indicated a control valve for controlling flow from the pipe '2I8, for

the purpose of maintaining pressure on one side or the other of the operating mechanism of my machine.

The valve 220 is normally held in one position by means of a spring 222 and can be adjusted to another position by the foot treadle 224. The valve 220 controls the pistons in cylinders and I02 and one side of the piston in the cylinder I80. On the bracket 68 is carried a valve 226 (Fig. 1) which controls the piston in the cylinder 2I0 and the upward movement of the piston in the cylinder I80. The valve 220 is connected with the top of the cylinder I02 by a pipe 228. The pipe 228 is connected by the extension flexible pipe 230 with the foot of the cylinder 80. A pipe 232 and flexible extension 234 connects the supply pipe 2l8 with the valve 226. The valve 226 is connected by a pipe 236 and flexible pipe 240 with the lower end of the cylinder I80 and by branch flexible tube 242 with the top of the cylinder 2I0.

Perhaps it should be here mentioned that in starting the operation, a yalve, not shown, is opened in the line 2I8, so as to supply oil to the machine under pressure and the pipe 232 then remains under pressure, so long as the machine is being operated.

The valve 220 is connected by a pipe 244 with the lower end of the cylinder I02 and by a branch pipe 248 and a flexible tube 248 with the upper end of the cylinder I80, and by an extension pipe 250 and flexible tube 252 with the top of the cylinder 80. The valve 226 is connected by pipe and tube connections 254 with the lower end of the cylinder 2I0.

Practical operation I will now describe the sequence of operation of my improved tying machine. In describing the operation, it will be necessary to complete the description of some of the parts.

The tie wire 252 is fed from any suitable roll as a source of supply between the wire feeding rolls I88-I64 through the screw I52 and bushing I48, and through the slot I50 and the slot I24 and slot I'I2 (Figs. 1; 2, 5 and 6), thence along slot I53 in the top of the plate-like mem- This bushing is perhaps best shown in ing operation mentioned in Figure 1.

At this time the grippingelement G is in its raised position of Figure '1 and the finger 56 on the upper end of the chain 50 is just below the wire as shown in Figure l. The arms 24 are then in their position shown in full :lines in Figure 1.

A coil-of wire 25 is-dropped on the supports II--22,'thereby depressing the portions 26 of-the arms 24 and moving the arms 24 from their full line position of Figure 1 to their upright dotted position of that figure, so that their upper ends will enter the rabbets I04 asthe articlegripping member G is lowered.

A valve, not shown, is opened for admitting pressure to the supply pipe 2-I8. The pedal 224 is depressed against the action of the spring 222 to a position which allows the pressure fluid to travel from the pipe 2E8 through the valve 220 to the pipe 228. The'pressure fluid enters the upper end of the cylinder I02, forcing the piston therein downwardly and thereby lowering the piston rod I80 and the article gripping member G. It is obvious that there is considerable load on the piston rod I00, and the first important motion of the machine is the downward movement of the element G until it contacts the article to be tied.

The bracket 68 and cylinder 80 travel downwardly with the article gripping element G and, when the pressure builds up to a certain point, the fluid by-passing the cylinder I02 and traveling through the flexible tube 230 enters the lower part of the cylinder 80 and moves its piston and piston rod I8 upwardly, thereby rocking the arm I4 to its position shown in Figure 2. The efiect of the rocking of the arm I4 is to rotate the shaft II and the gear I2 carried thereby for actuating the gear 66 and shaft 64 and sprocket 52 to cause the chain 50 to travel from its position shown in Figure 1 to its position shown in Figure 2. The last part of the movement of the chain serves to move what is then the upper part of the finger 5.6 into th enlarged portion 48a of the slot 48, and to position where the upper end of the finger 56 is backed by the shoulder 48b, Figures 2 and 4.

During this downward movement of G, the members 46 slide over the upper ends of the arms 24 (see Fig. 2). Just before the beginning of the upward movementof the finger 56, the tip end of the tie wire 252 overlies the finger 56 and projects into the beveled end of the sleeve 96, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. As the finger 56 travels upwardly, the end of the wire 252 enters the shallow slot 62 in the end .of the finger 56. A little further upward travel of the finger 56 bends the wire so as to form its end into a hook, which continues to travel in asuitable groove 260 (Fig. 3) formed in the channel 48. The hook on the end of the wire 252 is indicated at 262 in Figure 2. This hook is utilized in the final tying operation, asexplained below.

It will be seen that the lowering of the article gripping element G serves to grip the wire coil 25 on the members 22 and between the arms 24 and the parts of the gripping member G, so as to snugly engage and compact the coil of wire and to hold it compacted during the tying operation.

Pivoted on the bracket68 at 264 between its ends, is alever 265 (Fig. 1). One end of this lever is 'operatively connected with the valve 226 and the other end projects into the paths of two spaced strike rollers 266 and 268 mounted on the gear 12. The final upward movement of the piston rod I8 and rotation of the gear 12 thereby, which has already been explained, causes the striker roller 268 to engage and move the lever 265 sulficiently to actuate the valve 226 to its position where it permits fiow from the pipe 2I8 and .pipe .232 and tube 234, through such valve and through the piping 236-240, to the bottom of the cylinder Iand through the piping 236242 to the top of the cylinder 2I0. When pressure is thus supplied to the lower end of the cylinder I80, the piston in that cylinder forces the piston rod I'I8 upwardly. The upward movement of the piston rod I18 raises the pivoted lever I14 until that lever strikes the stop screw 210 adjustably mounted on the bracket arm I I8.

The effect of this first and limited upward movement of the lever arm I14 i to permit the spring 2I2 of Figure 2 to pull the chain 2I4 for a limited distance, thereby rotating the sprocket I and shaft I84. However, the wire feeding wheel is not rotated correspondingly because of its over-running clutch connection (of any standard form not shown) with the shaft I84,

After the lever I14 strikes the stop pin 210, the further upward movement of the piston rod I18 moves the entire bracket H4 and the cut-off and tying head H upwardly until the head I61 of the plunger I66 strikes the underside of one of the members 46, as at 212 (Fig. 2) Such undersurface forms an anvil and the plunger I66 is forced downwardly relative to the head H. This downward movement of the plunger I66 has several results. First, the plunger I40 is forced downwardly until the wire 252 is engaged at the upper end of the slot I50 and cut off by the plunger I40, cooperating with the end of the hardened sleeve I48, which projectsinto the bore I28. The parts are so arranged that there is a slight further movement of the plunger I40 after the wire has been cut, and in this slight further movement, the top of the slot I50 and the projecting lug I42 serve to force the wire downward into the slot I24, thus bending the end of the piece which has been cut off.

In the meanwhile the lowering of the gripping member G has brought the hook-like part 262, formed by the finger 56 in the opposite end of the tie wire, down into the slot I24, where it is right alongside the bent portion just described.

I will now describe the twistin or tying operation proper. At the same time 'fiuid Was per-- mitted to flow from the valv 226 to the bottom of the cylinder I80, it was likewise permitted to flow through the branch piping 242 to the top of the cylinder 2I0. The piston rod 208 extending from that cylinder being tied to the chain 204 tends to rotate the sprocket I26 and the rotary cylindrical member I22, but could not do so because of the projection of the plunger I64 into thebor I28. 1

When, however, the plunger I66 was lowered in the manner hereinabc-ve described, the effect was to move the plunger I54 out of the bore I28 and to move the upper end of the plunger I40 into the bore I28, whereupon the cylindrical member i22might rotate within the journal I20. The pressure in the cylinder 2I0 functions to further actuate the piston rod 208 and. the chain 204 and sprocket I26 for imparting to the rotatable cyl- 9 inder I22 three full rotations. This has the effect of twisting together the ends of the tie wire in the slot I24 and thus tying the tie wire around the coil 25.

The operator then releases the foot pedal 224 so that the valve 220 is actuated to position where pressure from the supply line ZIB travels into the pipe 244 to the bottom of cylinder I02. The pressure in the lower end of cylinder I02 raises the piston therein, thereby raising the piston rod I and the article gripping element G from its position shown in Figure 2 back to its original position of Figure 1.

Fluid also passes from the pipe 244 to the pipe 250 and flexible tube 252 to the upper end of the cylinder 80, and the piston in that cylinder traveling downward, carries with it the piston rod 18 and rocks the arm 14, thereby rotating the gear 12 and pinion 66 and shaft 64 for rotating the sprocket 52 for moving the chain 50 from its position shown in Figure 2 to its position shown in Figure 1.

It Will be obvious that fluid from the pipe 244 also travels through the pipe 246 and tube 248 to the cylinder I80. This places pressure on .both sides of the piston preventing any further movement until roller 266 contacts lever 265 which actuates valve 226 which releases the pressure on bottom side of cylinder I80 allowing the piston in cylinder I80 to move downwardly, carrying with it the lever I14 and bracket arm II8. This eflects the lowering of the head H, bracket II4, arm II8 and the parts supported by it including feed rolls I88, I94, and chain 2M and cylinder 2I0.

When the arm H8 starts down, the spring 212 holds the lever I14 snugly against the stop 210 until the bracket II 4 strikes the stops 4a on the guide pins II2. Then the wire 252 is in proper alignment with groove I53 in plate 20. The bracket H4 and arm H8 can go no farther but the lever I14 isswung down on its pivot from its position engaging the stop 210 to its full line position of Figure 2. In this latter movement the lever operates the chain 2 I4 causing the-chain to rotate the sprocket I90 against the tension of the sprin 2I2. The effect is to rotate the wire advancing roll I38. The wire 252 is held snugly against that roll by the roll I94 and the spring I91. for are-threading it through the slot I53 (Fig. 3) and into its position shown in Figure l, where it is free and projects into the sleeve 96. It will be understood that suitable play in the parts is provided for permitting such operations.

The rotation of the gear 12 for moving the chain 50, as above described, also brings the roller 266 into engagement with the lever 265 for op erating the valve 226 to position where fiow of pressure fluid is permitted to the pipe 254 and the bottom of the cylinder 21!), whereupon the piston in the cylinder 2 I 0 is moved upwardly. Its piston actuates the chain 200, but the overrunning clutch connection of the sprocket I26 with the rotatable member I22 permits the chain and sprocket to operate Without any efiect on the member I22. The parts however are restored to position for another wire tying operation.

The operator removes the tied coil 25 and either turns it around so that it can be tied at another place or replaces it with another coil, and when that its done, he releases the lever 224 for another cycle of tying operations.

Summarizing this cycle of operations, the placing of the article to be tied raises the arms 24.

The rotation of the roll I88 moves the wire The pedal is operated and head G is lowered for gripping and compacting the article. If the article be a box, for example, the parts are arranged to fit that box and the compacting operation may be eliminated. When the head G is lowered, the mechanism actuates the chain 50 for bending the end of the tie wire and carrying that end from its position shown in Figure l to its position shown in Figure 2. This movement of course pulls more wire from the unshown coil, which is the source of supply. Then the head H is raised, the head I61 striking the anvil 212 (Fig. 2), whereupon the wire is cut off, and the parts adjusted to position where the member I22 rotates for twisting together ends of that piece of wire which has just been cut off from the main supply.

Next the operator releases the pedal 224 whereupon the head G is raised, the chain 50 is moved back from its position shown in Figure 2 to its position shown in Figure l. The wire feeding cut-off and tying mechanism is lowered, the wire is re-threaded and the piston in cylinder 2I0 is moved back to its original position.

All the parts are then ready for another operation and a new article is placed in tying position, and the pedal 224 is depressed.

The size of the package determines the length of the stroke of the head G and thereby determines the travel of the chain '50 and the amount of wire supplied by it for each tie, and also determines the length of travel of the wire feeding, tying and cutting mechanism, so that the proper length of wire is supplied by it.

It will :be understood that the valves 220 and 226 have the usual exhaust pipe connections 400 and 402 leading to a conventional tank, not shown, connected to a pump, not shown, for putting the oil back into the working line under pressure.

It will be obvious from the description that there are numerous advantages in the structure here shown other than those which have been specifically mentioned. It will also be obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of the structure of the machine, and it is my purpose to cover by my claims any modifications in form and detail which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a tying machine, means for engaging and tightly gripping an article to be tied, a member mounted for actuation to article-holding position in interlocking engagement with the first means by the article to be tied, means for placing a length of tie wire around the article, means for cutting such length from a source of wire supply, and means for tying together the ends of the tie wire.

2. In a tying machine, means for engaging and tightly gripping an article to be tied, said means including a support, a slidable element adapted to form a side and top of the'means, a pivoted member having a part adapted to be engaged by an article When placed in position to be tied, for movement to article-holding position, said element being adapted to receive and hold an end of said pivoted member, means for placing a length of tie wire around the article, means for cutting such length from a source of wire supply, and means for tying together the ends of the tie wire.

3. In a tying machine, an article support, an article engaging element for cooperation therewith, mounted for movement toward and from article-engaging position, means for feeding a tie wire through said element, said means including a chain having a pivoted finger, said element having a curved channel for the chain to travel in, terminating near one end in a portion with an off-set shoulder to form a backing for the finger, and means for tying the ends of the wire together.

4. In a tying machine, an article support, an article engaging element for cooperation therewith, mounted for movement toward and from article-engaging position, means for feeding a tie wire through said element, said means including a chain having a pivoted finger, said ele-- ment having a curved channel for the chain to travel in, terminating near one end in a portion with an off-set shoulder to form a backing for the finger, means for reciprocating the element, for carrying the chain with it, means for actuating and moving the chain with relation to the element, and means for tying the ends of the wire together.

5. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-off and tying head, means for moving said head to and from position to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said head having means for cutting the wire to tying length, and means for tying the free ends of such length together.

6. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gri ping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-off and tying head, means for moving said head to and from position to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in grippin an article, said head having means actuated by engagement with said. element for cutting the wire to tying length, and means for tying the free ends of such length together.

'7. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-oil and tying head, means for movingsaid head to and from position to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said head havingicut-ofl and tying means, including a rotary member with a lengthwise bore through it to receive wire, a diametrical slot at one end for receiving the ends to be twisted together, and a diametricalbore parallel with the said slot for receiving cut-ofi means.

8. In a tyingv machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to andfrom position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-off and tying head; means for moving said head to and from position to coopcrate with said element in any position the said element may haveassumed in gripping an article, said head having cut-ofi and tying means, in-

12 cluding a rotary member with a lengthwise bore through it to receive wire, a diametrical slot at one end. for receiving the ends to be twisted together, and a diametrical bore parallel with the said slot for receiving a sliding cut-off plunger and means normally biased to one limit of movement, for engaging the article engaging element and being given cut off movement, when the head is slidto position therefor.

9. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting. means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-01f and tying head, means including a device carried by the article gripping element for moving said head to and from position to'cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said head having means for cutting the wire to tying length-and means for tying the free ends of such length together.

10. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for Wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-01f and tying head, means including means actuated upon movement of the article gripping element for moving said head to and from. position. to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said head having means for cutting the wire to tying length and means for tying the free ends of'such length together.

11. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to. be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to andfrom position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a slidingv cut-off and tying head, means for moving said head to and from position to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said, head having means for cutting the wire to tying length, means for tying the free ends of such length together, and synchronized means for advancing wire from a source of supply to position for the performance of another cycle of operations by the machine.

12. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from position for engaging an article on said supporting means, means for wrapping a length of tie wire around an article gripped by said element, a sliding cut-oil and tying head, means for moving said head to and from position to cooperate with said element in any position the said element may have assumed in gripping an article, said head having means for cutting the wire to tying length, means for tying the free ends of such length together, and means actuated by the movement of the head away from the article gripping element, for feeding a supply of wire to position for the performance of another cycle of operations by the machine.

13. In a tying machine, means for supporting an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element to and from difierent positions for engaging an article on said supporting means, mechanisms for supplying a length of tie wire around the article gripped by the element, and means whereby the degree of movement of said mechanisms, and consequently the length of ti wire supplied, is determined by the gripping position of the element.

14. In a tying machine, means for supportin an article to be tied, a reciprocating article gripping element, means for moving said element from an initial position to variable positions for engagin an article on said supporting means, means including an element carried by the article gripping element for feeding a tie wire to varying tying positions depending on the position assumed by the article gripping element when in REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 320,387 Notter June 16, 1885 2,331,416 Muller, Sr Oct. 12, 1943 1,325,916 Smirle Dec. 23, 1919 1,358,952 Herman Nov. 16, 1920 

